Otaru This & That

The Snow Gleaming (Yukiakari) 9th OTARU in Hokkaido ended on a high note. According to the executive committee, this year's Yukiakari gathered about 568,000 visitors over last year's record that had been all-time high.

On the final day of the fesival, I walked around the Canal site and the Temiya-sen site and took some photographs.

I started at Asakusa-bashi bridge that is famous as a nice viewpoint of the canal.

Otaru canal was beautiful as always.

Asarigawa Hot Spring Village is the resort area of Otaru in Hokkaido, where you can enjoy skiing in winter on the skiing ground with a magnificent view of the sea. Hot spring open-air bath that many hotels in this area provide must be another pleasure after skiing here.

In addition to the above, you can also enjoy beautiful shimmering lights of the candles in the Asarigawa River during the Snow Gleaming Festival time.

Unicla is the unit made up of Akiko Nagasaki (clarinet) and Ryoich Tobisawa (guitar). They are taking an active part of Otaru Soko No.1's live music performances.They released their first mini album in June 2006.

DAGUDA is a jazz quartette playing an active role in Otaru's music scene. DAGUDA creates unique music under the conceptual themes of Gray past, universe, nature, coexistence, and harmony. The album titled "Talks among The Moon, Earth and Forest" is the mini CD released in 2006.

There are lots of entertainments to enjoy Otaru's night. If you love beer and music, Otaru Soko No.1 is the right place to satisfy the both purposes at a time.

Early this morning I drove to Shukutsu area, a major viewing spot for sunset and sunrise in Otaru Hokkaido, to see this year's first sunrise.

The viewing platform was crowded with many young people and photographers who came to capture the sunrise. It was fine on this new year's day so we all succeeded in being circumfused with this year's early-morning sunlight.

Most of the tourists attractions are within easy access of the city centre by bus or on foot in Otaru. One-day Pass of Hokkaido Chuo Bus is handy and economical to get around the city. You can use this pass to take the ¥210-fare rate buses within Otaru as many times as you like.

From New Chitose AirportTake JR Hokkaido's "Rapid Airport Train" (快速エアポート) for Otaru. The services are available every 30 minuets by day. It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes from New Chitose Airport to Otaru. Fare (one way): ¥1,740 (New Chitose Airport - Otaru)

For most visitors to Otaru in Hokkaido, JR Otaru station may be the place you first arrive and start your trip.

The station staff work out an elaborate plan to please those visitors’ eye every season, and at this time, the station is filled with Christmasy feel.

The photos are some examples of decorations, the lamps on the huge window are permanent, though.

The feature of this year is the display of glass Christmas trees made by glass artists in Otaru.

Otaru is known as the birthplace of Hokkaido’s railway. In 1880, the track construction of Horonai Railway, the first railway in Hokkaido, began here in Otaru, and it officially opened in 1882.